My Coworker Claimed My Work and Got Embarrassingly Exposed

Managing issues at the workplace can prove tricky, especially if you’re not the kind of person who likes to create conflict. One of our readers came up with a sneaky solution to deal with a difficult coworker, who had long been taking credit for his work.

Here’s his story:

Hi Bright Side!

I’m Mike, and it’s my first time writing to you guys. It’s not necessarily something I want help with, but I have this funny story I just wanted to share. Maybe it will help others in their workplace, dunno. For context, I work at a large corporation. I won’t give the name, for confidentiality purposes.

There’s this woman I work with who’s been driving me crazy for months. This person, my coworker, always stole credit for my work, swooping in at the last minute. I’m not the kind of guy who likes to stir up a conflict, so I usually let it slide.

But it reached a point where I just couldn’t take it anymore. So I came up with a plan. It was sneaky, but effective if you ask me.

This time, I handed her an incomplete draft with flawed data. She proudly presented it, but when the department head asked a simple question, she froze. I was sooo happy, you have no idea. I watched her as she went pale, flipping through the pages, obviously so confused.

“I’m not sure what this figure represents...” she said, or something like that. The manager, who was expecting her to be this picture-perfect employee, like she’d been so far on my expense, asked, “Did you prepare this yourself?”

I watched her, shocked, as she lied, “Yes. Of course.” “Then you should be able to explain it.”

It was so awkward, you could cut up the tension in the room with a knife. I sat there sipping my coffee, enjoying it in silence. Eventually, the boss turned to me. “Can you take over this project going forward?” I said yes, of course.

After that, she never tried to take credit again. Look, I know it’s a bit petty, but I was tired of being the good guy, you know?

Thank you for sharing! That was definitely one way to handle it, and no doubt satisfying in the moment. But if you’re ever in a similar spot again, there are a few ways to protect yourself without the need to be deceitful.

• Talk sooner. If someone’s crossing a line, bring it up early. Waiting too long can build resentment, and the longer it goes, the harder it is to speak up. A simple conversation can clear things up before it becomes a bigger problem.
• Keep records of your work. Saving drafts, email threads, or update logs is an easy way to show what you’ve done. It’s in your best interest to have a quiet backup when questions come up. That way, credit stays with the person who earned it.

• Loop your manager in with updates. You don’t have to complain to keep your boss updated. Just send small progress check-ins or notes about where the project stands. It shows initiative and keeps your name attached to your own work.
• Stay calm, even when it’s frustrating. It’s hard not to take credit-stealing personally, but staying calm helps you stay in control. You want to be seen as capable and clear-headed, not as petty. When you handle things with honesty and confidence, it leaves a stronger impression than a trap ever could.

If you’re up for more workplace drama, twists, and turns, check out these 14 real-life work stories that are so wild, they honestly deserve their own Netflix series. You’ve been warned, they’re truly captivating.